I saw this play 4x on Broadway with my parents and have the original soundtrack. I was 11 in 1972. Never thought id see it again except in my memories. YouTube ROCKS!
I saw the actual play, "Purlie" with the very wonderful Melba Moore in it.
When I saw her singing, she actually squatted down lower and lower as her voice got higher and higher. That performance was electrifying and I was just a teenager when I saw and heard this dynamo, and I never forgot her. Why she didn't become very famous is a wonder to me.
I saw the actual play, "Purlie" with the very wonderful Melba Moore in it.
When I saw her singing, she actually squatted down lower and lower as her voice got higher and higher. That performance was electrifying and I was just a teenager when I saw and heard this dynamo, and I never forgot her. Why she didn't become very famous is a wonder to me.
yes i felt like that after seeing streisand sing my man in funny girl at amovie house in chicago the show was so long it had an intermission but the end made me shake . i saw melba do this particular performance live on televison and was knocked out by it
@mulioctaveman Hi I am confused. I have seen references to whistle notes in this and posts for other singers. I am not a musician, please explain to me what is a whistle note.
@rayclarkpalmer The perfect example is when Mariah Carey hits any of those scream-like high notes it's a whistle tone. Whistle tones tend to be VERY high and most of the time airy and straight-toned. Not to be confused with someone using headvoice that high which tends to have vibrato in the upper register. Some people believe the note has to be over a point in order to be considered a whistle tone. After listening to this it sounds like she did a high head voice.
I saw this play 4x on Broadway with my parents and have the original soundtrack. I was 11 in 1972. Never thought id see it again except in my memories. YouTube ROCKS!
momsnoni 1 week ago
She KILLED that final note... in FULL... VOICE!! Tony Award-worthy... 'nuff said!
gameshowluvr86 2 months ago
@2:33 is a revolution. Brilliant performance - including the ending!
manidonno10 8 months ago
I saw the actual play, "Purlie" with the very wonderful Melba Moore in it.
When I saw her singing, she actually squatted down lower and lower as her voice got higher and higher. That performance was electrifying and I was just a teenager when I saw and heard this dynamo, and I never forgot her. Why she didn't become very famous is a wonder to me.
rutiaka 9 months ago
I saw the actual play, "Purlie" with the very wonderful Melba Moore in it.
When I saw her singing, she actually squatted down lower and lower as her voice got higher and higher. That performance was electrifying and I was just a teenager when I saw and heard this dynamo, and I never forgot her. Why she didn't become very famous is a wonder to me.
rutiaka 9 months ago
She is amazing!
BalletBabyBoy 11 months ago
I met her one night backstage during a telethon and she was absolutely the most wonderful person as well as an incredibly talented woman.
brandemour 11 months ago
melba actually is a soparano able to belt the upper register difficult and athletic and always a showstopper
smokelean 1 year ago
yes i felt like that after seeing streisand sing my man in funny girl at amovie house in chicago the show was so long it had an intermission but the end made me shake . i saw melba do this particular performance live on televison and was knocked out by it
smokelean 1 year ago 2
My dad took me to see Pearlie. This was the first musical I’d been to see. When Melba Moore finished this I could not breathe.
1RainDear 1 year ago 2
This was 1970 I believe. Amazing none the less. Melba is phenomenal!
DorkTownHero 1 year ago
Few videos on here show what a brilliant singer Melba Moore was in her prime... but this one sure does! Awesome. Thanks so much for posting this.
highbelter 1 year ago
I think she might have accidentally sang a whistle note at the end of this.
mulioctaveman 1 year ago
@mulioctaveman Hi I am confused. I have seen references to whistle notes in this and posts for other singers. I am not a musician, please explain to me what is a whistle note.
rayclarkpalmer 1 year ago
@rayclarkpalmer The perfect example is when Mariah Carey hits any of those scream-like high notes it's a whistle tone. Whistle tones tend to be VERY high and most of the time airy and straight-toned. Not to be confused with someone using headvoice that high which tends to have vibrato in the upper register. Some people believe the note has to be over a point in order to be considered a whistle tone. After listening to this it sounds like she did a high head voice.
mulioctaveman 1 year ago
@mulioctaveman
Melba is a trained singer and does nothin accidently. She can sing her butt off and no one today can top her. God bless you girl!
MrApollo45 1 year ago 2
@MrApollo45 Well she was younger then and even trained singers slip up and I think it was her training that kept her on track.
mulioctaveman 1 year ago
SANG!!!
vangoghmatisse 1 year ago
Others TRY to sing this, but Ms Moore just had this ability naturally and it shows here!
rlee1976 1 year ago 6
MAOPAC I am sooo in love with you right now. Where did you get this???
AMAZING!!!!
ShangoJamal 2 years ago
@ShangoJamal THERE IS A VHS OF THE PLAY PURLIE WITH MELBA MOORE.
blueis42 1 year ago
wow. stunning! no wonder she won the tony!
uncoverbrother 2 years ago 2
such a powerful, force of a voice!! this performance is wonderful!
dacanceruwishuwere94 2 years ago 7
AWESOME !! I forgot what a powerful voice Melba Moore had. Wish I could find the play on dv. djlovett60
djlovett60 2 years ago
@djlovett60 IT'S NOT ON DVD BUT IT IS ON VHS
blueis42 1 year ago